![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]()
Post
#1
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 308 Joined: 2-November 09 Member No.: 17,830 ![]() |
My players will take any run I throw at them (Partly because I think they think it's the only one I have prepared) What are some examples of runs that every runner with half a brain should outright refuse?
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#2
|
|
Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,946 Joined: 1-June 09 From: Omaha Member No.: 17,234 ![]() |
Hmmm
Anything that involves any two or more of the following: A unknown Johnson (J's have to remain anonymous for the system to work, but somebody should at least be willing to give you a straight read on this guy. Stay away from J's the nobody knows nothing about). Special/dangerous requirements (Touch only X, you must begin the run in 15 mins, extraction target must remain conscious) No/insufficient up front money. These arn't complete ironclad rules but for runs that the runners don't have a personal investment in they would be guidelines I'd recommend to people in the SR verse. Put another way: Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#3
|
|
Great Dragon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 7,116 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,449 ![]() |
You think it's a metagame problem (they think you only have one run prepared), so clear and unambiguous communication, out-of-game, is what is called for here.
I think you need to tell the players that their characters have the right, in-game, to turn down jobs that sound suspicious, don't pay enough for the risk, or go against whatever moral code, if any, the group has (burning down orphanages, etc.). And also warn them that you will be pitching the occasional "bad" run to them. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#4
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 245 Joined: 17-August 10 Member No.: 18,943 ![]() |
You think it's a metagame problem (they think you only have one run prepared), so clear and unambiguous communication, out-of-game, is what is called for here. I think you need to tell the players that their characters have the right, in-game, to turn down jobs that sound suspicious, don't pay enough for the risk, or go against whatever moral code, if any, the group has (burning down orphanages, etc.). And also warn them that you will be pitching the occasional "bad" run to them. The Grab from missions worries me - 3 days to carry out an extraction with a very specific "no harm to the extractee" clause, and potentially all you have is the name of the victim... Three days isn't long to find out about the vic's security arrangements etc, obtain specialist equipment and then carry out the grab... |
|
|
![]()
Post
#5
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 102 Joined: 26-April 11 Member No.: 28,868 ![]() |
In a previous campaign I ran in the GM had a game he liked to play with us. It was to make us say "We really shouldn't have taken this job" earlier and earlier each run.
The last run in this slowly escalating chain of bad decisions was as follows: Johnson: Obvious constantly grinning steel Cyberskull with AR fluorescent green insects flying in and out of the eyes and ears. He gives us a real name that we trace back to a corp exec who was murdered and beheaded approximately two weeks ago who is a visual match to the Johnson. The run: Take this box, shielded with wifi-negation, electronic hardening, MAD shielding, high density material(No Radar), high level mana barrier so you have no idea what is in it and can't and, using a submarine I have parked in the harbor, drive out to a Saeder-Krup run free island off the coast open it, and then follow all instructions inside. The response: No taking runs from Johnson's with Creepy, Rating 6. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#6
|
|
Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,272 Joined: 22-June 10 From: Omaha. NE Member No.: 18,746 ![]() |
In addition to Lurker's post (above) I dislike any runs where the Johnson has the gear I'll need prepared in advance.
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#7
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 308 Joined: 2-November 09 Member No.: 17,830 ![]() |
In a previous campaign I ran in the GM had a game he liked to play with us. It was to make us say "We really shouldn't have taken this job" earlier and earlier each run. The last run in this slowly escalating chain of bad decisions was as follows: Johnson: Obvious constantly grinning steel Cyberskull with AR fluorescent green insects flying in and out of the eyes and ears. He gives us a real name that we trace back to a corp exec who was murdered and beheaded approximately two weeks ago who is a visual match to the Johnson. The run: Take this box, shielded with wifi-negation, electronic hardening, MAD shielding, high density material(No Radar), high level mana barrier so you have no idea what is in it and can't and, using a submarine I have parked in the harbor, drive out to a Saeder-Krup run free island off the coast open it, and then follow all instructions inside. The response: No taking runs from Johnson's with Creepy, Rating 6. Green insects flying in and out of eyes and ears?! |
|
|
![]()
Post
#8
|
|
Immortal Elf ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 ![]() |
Not Shadowrun, and not quite walked away, but there was a Star Wars game where we had the accountant do the budget for the mission (We were a Privateer Corporation and had to answer to the shareholders. Namely, the heavily armed crew! This was before Schlock Mercenary, BTW), and found out that it wasn't worth our time, not even paying for maintenance.
We polled the crew, and the end result was: "You know what, we'll do it any way. We're bored. Oh, and good cause and all that. Mostly the bored part, however." The look on the GM's face as we went through all of these actions was priceless. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#9
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 102 Joined: 26-April 11 Member No.: 28,868 ![]() |
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#10
|
|
Great Dragon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 ![]() |
We had one that had us all going into Portland, back in the day. Most of us were not elves. Everyone just had a really bad feeling and we turned him down and walked out of the meet. And it turned out it was the right call.
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#11
|
|
Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,019 Joined: 10-November 10 From: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Member No.: 19,166 ![]() |
I once gave the PCs a job that involved going out to a cabin, on a lake in the woods, and investigate what happened there. The characters weren't there 5 minutes, and their Driver (an NPC they hired to get them there. As none knew how to drive at that point) was killed, on his way out of there (they didn't miss him, all he did was make passes at the female characters). One of them heard the crash, and went to investigate, meting up with some huge shadow in the woods. Levelling his gun, he asks the shadow who he is. The shadow turns around, and throws it's machete at the character, getting imbeded in the PC's shoulder.
Turns out, what happened was an old-school slaughter of the Governor's daughter and her friends by a spirit inhabiting the dead body of a Giant in a hockey mask and a worker's jumpsuit. Edit: Alright, this isn't a run they turned their backs on, but they probably should have. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#12
|
|
The ShadowComedian ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 ![]() |
We had one run, where all but one refused to work with said one character.
GM and players faces were priceless, when we started an impromptu LAN-Party without them. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#13
|
|
Target ![]() Group: Members Posts: 75 Joined: 17-July 11 Member No.: 33,515 ![]() |
Mysterious Johnson offered the group access to things they'd likely never see otherwise; betaware for the samurai, a loaner t-bird for the rigger, I forget the rest but I remember it equally WOW. The runners politely backed away as quickly as possible.
In character, we figured anyone offering us a deal that good seemingly that easily is either sending us on a suicide run or planning on making us indentured servants bound to the whims of something much bigger than us. Given what had just happened in the campaign world (Denver '62), we particularly didn't want to risk breaking the 4th Runner Commandment. OOC, I'm sure we just completely screwed up the GM's campaign plot hook. Campaign didn't last long after that. But it was the right thing to do IC. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#14
|
|
Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,883 Joined: 16-December 06 Member No.: 10,386 ![]() |
I'm always a li'l worried about J's who seem like they really want us to commit to a job before divulging more details. There's nothing worse than a J that is naive AND paranoid. One time my decidedly pink mohawk group walked away from a job just for that reason, which was pretty amazing and required a herculean choke by the Johnson. We were all itching to play and our Street Samurai player at least would likely have signed onto a job even if given little more information than "I need you to do a snatch and grab at a triple A facility."
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#15
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 101 Joined: 10-November 10 From: australia Member No.: 19,167 ![]() |
In the game that I am currently playing in I have had a few thoughts about saying no to a few runs, it has come down to the fact that "I" want to play as the reason that my character has said yes. The rest of the group that I am with will say yes to anything, we are actually about to go for a drive from Seattle to the shatter graves for a snatch and grab on an ex-marine and we getting paid 50,000 for the job
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#16
|
|
Immortal Elf ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 ![]() |
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#17
|
|
Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,883 Joined: 16-December 06 Member No.: 10,386 ![]() |
Touché.
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#18
|
|
Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,899 Joined: 29-October 09 From: Leiden, the Netherlands Member No.: 17,814 ![]() |
We were in Seattle, and there was some sort of internal Mafia Mob war brewing. So one Johnson (A) who we'd worked for before calls us about a job, and another Johnson (B) as well.
When we get to talking with A, he tells us that before he'll tell us more, he wants us all to accept a cranial bomb because the mission is so secret. So we walked out. .... then B's mission was just all about killing Johnson A. Who we'd just let slip away. Grr. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#19
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 350 Joined: 20-August 06 Member No.: 9,176 ![]() |
I am really amazed at how much you guys seem to want beforehand. Things like "3 days isn't long enough" and wanting to know all the details about a job beforehand or being suspicious because the Johnson offers support equipment for the job?
My opinion is that is what being a runner is about: you are going to take the job that is dangerous and often the job that "sane" people would turn down. That is WHY runners exist. You need a job done and you need it right now... hire a runner team. Often getting the job done actually depends on the mark going "But who in their right mind would even attempt...?" It's all about surprise, having the skills and being willing to do the things no one else would think possible. Runners aren't expected to live forever. That's what makes it sweet when your character succeeds and that's why you develop a street rep after a while. Sure your Johnson is gonna try to screw you... probably more than half the time. That's where the sweetness lies: Do the job, make the money, don't get screwed and watch your Johnson take the fall for the bad shit he lined up against you, all the while absolutely no clues point to you for his undoing. Give anyone enough intel, enough prep time and enough support and they can rob a bank successfully. A runner should be able to come up with a plan in a couple hours, pull it off, pin it on someone else and the robbery was only a diversion from the REAL job, which was doing something like stealing the bank manager's house keys so that you can bug his house to get information on a mob pal of his about which horse is supposed to win in the 6th race on Sunday. Vlad |
|
|
![]()
Post
#20
|
|
Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,019 Joined: 10-November 10 From: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Member No.: 19,166 ![]() |
I am really amazed at how much you guys seem to want beforehand. Things like "3 days isn't long enough" and wanting to know all the details about a job beforehand or being suspicious because the Johnson offers support equipment for the job? My opinion is that is what being a runner is about: you are going to take the job that is dangerous and often the job that "sane" people would turn down. That is WHY runners exist. You need a job done and you need it right now... hire a runner team. Often getting the job done actually depends on the mark going "But who in their right mind would even attempt...?" It's all about surprise, having the skills and being willing to do the things no one else would think possible. Runners aren't expected to live forever. That's what makes it sweet when your character succeeds and that's why you develop a street rep after a while. Sure your Johnson is gonna try to screw you... probably more than half the time. That's where the sweetness lies: Do the job, make the money, don't get screwed and watch your Johnson take the fall for the bad shit he lined up against you, all the while absolutely no clues point to you for his undoing. Give anyone enough intel, enough prep time and enough support and they can rob a bank successfully. A runner should be able to come up with a plan in a couple hours, pull it off, pin it on someone else and the robbery was only a diversion from the REAL job, which was doing something like stealing the bank manager's house keys so that you can bug his house to get information on a mob pal of his about which horse is supposed to win in the 6th race on Sunday. Vlad And then, bet the stolen money on the horse race... |
|
|
![]()
Post
#21
|
|
Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 172 Joined: 26-July 10 Member No.: 18,852 ![]() |
I had a group of runners refuse to take a run against Doc Wagon to steal some numbered samples because they all had Doc Wagon contracts and would not burn their employer.
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#22
|
|
Immortal Elf ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 ![]() |
I had a group of runners refuse to take a run against Doc Wagon to steal some numbered samples because they all had Doc Wagon contracts and would not burn their employer. Why do you think DocWagon advertises to Shadowrunners?Shadowrunners pay *THEM* to not perform Shadowruns on them. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#23
|
|
Great Dragon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 ![]() |
I had a group of runners refuse to take a run against Doc Wagon to steal some numbered samples because they all had Doc Wagon contracts and would not burn their employer. I had a character who's serious GF was a honcho with KE. We didn't hit Ares or KE protected/contracted sites, but she got us a lot of "well, we can't officially investigate this..." jobs. |
|
|
![]()
Post
#24
|
|
Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,717 Joined: 23-March 09 From: Weymouth, UK Member No.: 17,007 ![]() |
|
|
|
![]()
Post
#25
|
|
Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,911 Joined: 26-February 02 From: near Stuttgart Member No.: 1,749 ![]() |
The only thing we are about to refuse (future-speaking) is "track down and put a tail on somebody for about a week". Our team is called "fight-club" and if nothing is blowing up into pieces or people are shreddered into red dust, we don´t want to do the job.^^
|
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 16th May 2025 - 04:04 PM |
Topps, Inc has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. Topps, Inc has granted permission to the Dumpshock Forums to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with the Dumpshock Forums in any official capacity whatsoever.